The Sedgwick Theater, home of the Quintessence Theatre Group, was designed by architect William…read moreHarold Lee, who made a name for himself building Pennsylvania theatres. (You may have been to the Bryn Mawr, another Lee-designed theater which operates as a popular movie house, to this day.) The Sedgwick was completed in 1928 and still has vestiges of its original art deco design. The theatre itself added to my appeal of "The Pirates of Penzance," the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta staged there . Decades ago I'd seen a production of 'Pirates' starring Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt. Quintessence's presentation was equally wonderful. Outstanding cast, outstanding staging, costumes, everything (!).... including tweaky nods to current political ineptitude. (The audience responded with cheers and applause.) Sit where you will. It's general admission, and as the saying goes 'no bad seat in the house.' If you have the opportunity to attend a Quintessence Theatre production, by all means, go! In addition to performances, their education department sponsors classes, workshops, young artist nights and residencies.

It is a cool theater. Free parking right across the street. I'll def come to more shows here…read more Pretty hard to get to your seats. That was the only issue. You couldn't get in and out easily. I spilled my coffee and had trouble getting help cleaning it up. The actual play we saw I wasn't too into. Not to say the cast didn't do a great job. The writing and story just wasn't engaging . It was hypochondriac. The guy next to me fell asleep and was snoring. They have a good selection at the snack shack.

Friendly neighborhood theater in the Chestnut Hill area. This theater is nestled away on the main…read morestrip of Chestnut Hill surrounded by shops and beautiful cobblestone streets. This is a no frills theater which means no amenities are served however anywhere you sit you are sure to get a great view of the production. I went here last night for the production of "Silent Sky" which is an inspirational story of how dedication and passion will stop no man or woman, as this play focused more on how women had to fight tooth and nail to pursue their dreams. Highly recommend you check out this playhouse if you are looking for a cheap night out to take in some theater. As always people SYOY!!!

Stagecraters is a hidden gem in Chestnut Hill. I have come here many times over the years and have…read morealways enjoyed myself. They have about 5 live stage performances throughout the year. They may run for about 3 weeks , Thursday thru Sunday. You have to check the schedule on the website for the times. The prices are pretty reasonable as well. Starting at $21, with discounts for seniors and students. Also special prices for Thursday night performances. I recently went to see William Shakespeare's play " Much to do about Nothing ". I really enjoyed it! The theater is small, holds about 200 people. The staff is very friendly, always welcoming you when you enter. The bathrooms always clean and they even have snacks for sale during the intermission. The reason they get 4 stars is because there is only street parking on Germantown Ave. and a parking lot for the stores in the area is about a block away. So you have to get there early to find a spot. They also have nice shops and restaurants in the area. I would highly recommend this place for a fun night out or weekend matinee!

First time attending a concert here so I didn't know what to expect…read more Parking is across the street and it fills up quickly so make sure to arrive early as it is a first come, first dib with parking space. There's no parking fee which is a huge plus in my book! The restrooms are down in the basement. It's small and dingy so I'd advise to use it as soon as you enter because there will be a line with the ladies. There's no bar stand so to buy any snacks and drinks, pay up at the entrance. The line and seatings are a bit disorganized but it's minor issue. People tried to get sneaky and sit whenever because no one checked tickets inside until the real seat purchaser shows up and kick them out. I got seatings in the orchestra second row from the stage and it was perfect! Not only am I close the band and artist performing but I sat in more comfortable seats, leg space and room to get up and dance. The first two rows are sectioned out away from the back row seatings and that was the best! I'm short and always dislike the feeling when people, especially taller people, are crowding me and standing right behind breathing on my back. With the way how sections are divided, they had to stand back! Kudos to the security guards for approaching ticket owners from the back rows for trying to come up front. Yes, these sneaky concert goers were removed from approaching the side of the first two rows. Some people just have no shame but hey, we got the last laugh when they were told to leave.

I went to a Thomas Anders concert at the War Memorial. The venue is on the older side, but it's…read moreactually not bad at all. The chairs in the orchestra section are a bit small, but pretty typical for a theater. We sat in the first two rows, which gave us plenty of space to move around and stand up when we wanted. It cost a little extra, but the added room was worth it. Parking was a big plus--there's a lot right next to the theater, and it was free. For refreshments, they only offered water and bags of chips, so nothing substantial. I'd definitely recommend having lunch or dinner before the show since there aren't any real food options inside. The bathroom, located in the basement, reminded me of my old elementary school. The performance itself was great, and everything went smoothly. I hope Thomas Anders returns because I'd definitely come back. This venue is far better than The Ritz in Elizabeth, where he performed the past two years on tour.

I came here for the Trenton International Film Festival and was so excited about the wonderful…read morevenue that this little stone church housed inside. The theater is small, but not tight, the ceiling are surprisingly high for such a small looking structure from the outside. The had a small refreshment stand inside, with a very friendly attendant and terrible coffee. If there was some wine offered, I would most definitely make this review a 5 star one. The parking situation was probably the most disappointing, on the website and in person they are very shady about where you can park. The theater itself does not have parking, and you are allowed to park in a no parking zone...supposedly. We were fortunate enough to come outside and no ticket or broken windows (large signs in theater warn you about leaving valuables in your car). Overall, I think I will run the risk of parking violation to enjoy the theater events again. I can't wait to come see an actual play, considering the audience gets to sit so close to the stage. Ticket prices were very reasonable, yet sadly most locals still do not attend. Can't wait until their next event!

I love this small intimate theatre! This was my third time at the theatre. All of the plays that…read moreI've seen here were great! The acoustics were great I could see the stage no matter where my seating was(I'm not the tallest person either). The staff is friendly. This place is worth a trip into Trenton! Check it out...only suggestion is better selection of refreshments.

For a few dollars more than an evening movie ticket we came on a whim for a very credible,…read moreprofessional production of 12 Angry Men that was riveting. While Henry Fonda's iconic turn as Juror Number 8 is safe, the play delivered far more than either of us expected. In the theater itself there's not really a bad seat anywhere unless you're looking for one in the lavatory - the bathroom situation appeared grim as many in the extremely mature audience were in distress at the conclusion of the ninety minute, no intermission production. The Kelsey is definitely on our radar - adult diapers not so much.

My family and I ended up seeing the Holiday Extravaganza show on Saturday afternoon. It was…read moreprobably about an hour and a half. Overall, the show touched on all the different holidays this season. The show did a nice job in featuring most of the actors/actresses in different musical numbers. My niece had a great time and was singing with some of the songs. Some of the songs were a bit more interactive than others. The cast would walk in where the crowd was sitting and get everyone to clap. I would say they had great energy. I would go back and see this show again. Kelsey theatre usually puts on a nice production! After the show was over, they offered light refreshments in the lobby. Then you could also take pictures with Santa.

I hadn't been to a renaissance fair in probably twenty or thirty years, but an acquaintance of mine…read morewas working this fair and posted about it on Facebook, so I decided to bring my girlfriend and 11-year-old son with me for something to do on a Saturday afternoon. I don't have much to compare it to, but all I know is we had a blast! It was raining steadily all day, which did absolutely nothing to dampen the spirits of everyone there. Tons of hardy people were still wandering the grounds, many in incredible and elaborate costumes. Everyone was in such a great mood, it was hard not to be swept up in all of it. The fair was enormous, with something to see and do around every corner. Seven stages with official shows, plenty of games, live animals, a blacksmith demonstration, tons of food, etc. My son particularly loved getting to throw spears and daggers, as well as a free whip lesson. We happily wandered the grounds for several hours and easily forgot about the miserable cold and wet weather. Can't wait for next year!

First ren faire and I have to say...I was disappointed but I still may go again next year. Didn't…read morefind out about this happening until 2 weekends in so ended up going the last weekend and unfortunately it was raining. Maybe it would've been better if the weather was nice but I still think it could've been a better experience - definitely buy your tickets online ahead of time, I bought mine at the door and it was 30 not 25 - plan ahead of time. Apparently they have different acts every weekend and some weekends have celebrity performers. If I knew about this ahead of time I would've gone 2nd weekend and the ticket price would've been worth it - feel free to dress up as extra as you want, honestly seeing all the costumes was my favorite part of the whole experience - food is overpriced as per usual - most of the acts were disappointing but that made have been partially due to the rain - it's mostly a fair for vendors to sell costumes and whatnot

I've been to the Witches Ball twice now -- once on a date-date (last year) and once on a…read morefriend-date (this year). If you're on a date, you'll probably want to make a reservation at the spooky Robin's Nest Restaurant at the opening of the outdoor festival, before meandering through the creepy, dark streets brimming with interesting characters. If you're on a friend date, you may want to avoid the intimate restaurant and head straight to the beer garden, the creepy teddy bear shop, or the ghost hunter store. Or, of course, the VooDoo Bar. Like the others have said, do NOT bring your kids here. You're ruining it for everyone when you do that crap. Two downfalls (aside from the kid infestation) of the event: -Lack of bathrooms -Lack of food vendors I stood in a line for some beautiful porta potties for what felt like a really-really long time. The guy behind me in line kept drunkenly yelling at the people in the stalls... as if they really wanted to take their time and enjoy themselves in there or something. After finally relieving myself, I then spent an absurd amount of time waiting for some chicken tenders. Get some more food vendors and bathroom options, Witches Ball, and you're golden. See you next year!

The Witches Ball is one of the many reasons why Halloween is my favorite holiday. Once a year the…read moretown of Mount Holly transforms into a Halloween wonderland of sorts. There are crafters, vendors, food, and definitely plenty of drinks. The cornerstone of this event in my opinion is the costume contest. People go all out for this and it's really a sight to see! Every year it seems to attract more and more visitors. For this reason, I hope they get better at accommodating more visitors as it took an inordinate amount of time this year to get a drink. But it is still a blast and shouldn't be missed by the Halloween enthusiasts in the greater Philadelphia area!

On a whim I booked tickets to see "Today is my Birthday" on preview for $20. I generally am down…read morefor a theater performance but I had never been here, or even heard of it. Now that Theatre Exile is on my radar, I definitely want to come back. Small shows can end up being gems and this was one of them. The show itself was geared towards late 20's but I think anyone can enjoy it. Told through a series of phone conversations, it was an interesting play. The theater itself was easy to find. They had strict COVID restrictions that included showing your vax card and requiring to wear your mask. I think people who enjoy theater don't have a problem with this kind of request but if it does bother you, go elsewhere. The riser seating section is not very big so it's a pretty intimate setting. They had all gender bathrooms that were clean. Very close to the BSL so easily accessible to most people in the city. I can't wait for another excuse to come see a show here.

I can't say this enough for Philadelphia Theatre: Prepare to be surprised by the performances and…read morethe venues. Theatre Exile put up a great production of "Glengary Glen Ross" in Spring 2007 and the space was another hidden treasure. The cast was filled with tenured actors that gave unique performances that came together in a singular production. It was my first show with this production company and if it was at all representative of their other shows, you'll definately see me going back to see more productions in the future. The mission of this company is to "produce risky and challenging plays that contain a sense of true Philadelphian grittiness and passion" by staging both new and established works. In addition, their focus is on letting tenured and up and coming artists work their craft while trying to find themselves as theatre artists. After speaking with someone on the phone over at the Theatre Exile box office, it was confirmed that they have and will probably continue to use the theater at the Christ Church Neighborhood House at 20 N. American Street. Ready for another suprise venue like Latvian Society theater (see my review for Pig Iron Theatre Company)? Well, on the THIRD floor of this church, there is a former basketball court that has been transformed into a black box theater. Imagine, the half court line is the edge of the stage. One half of the space is a platform with folding chairs as seats (nearly 100 or maybe more), and the other half is all space for the actors to play. It was rather stunning as the bare wood frame for the building is exposed and painted black. So, now for the things to watch for: This theater is NOT handicap accesible. No elevator and a lot of walking (check to see if everyone in your party is capable of walking up several flights of stairs). Bathrooms for men are located in the basement meaning that you'll be going down four floors. Late seating is often not possible as the stage is only 5 feet away from the front row. This company is one of the major players in the Philadelphia area. Make sure you make it to a show if you're in the area. Tickets are normally priced between $15-$40 and there are discounts available for students/seniors as well as Philly FunSaver discounts.